While We’re Waiting… It’s a brave new world
May 1, 2013Animated: Giambi’s hustling head-first slide
May 1, 2013Who are these Cleveland Indians hitters and what did you do with the group we’ve watched most of the season?
If we can take anything from this current Tribe three-game winning streak it is that this streaky team can be very dangerous when they get hot. The baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. We are only a month in and we’ve already seen many peaks and valleys with our team.
We saw them get shut out back to back nights in Tampa, then explode for 13 in the series finale. In a three-game home series against Chicago, they combined to score two runs in two games, sandwiched around a nine run win against tough lefty Chris Sale. They scored just 11 times in a five-game losing streak and then ended the skid by dropping 19 runs on the Astros in Houston. Oh, but dont forget the three-game losing streak later that week where the offense scored four runs, including another shutout to open a doubleheader Sunday. That was when we thought the Wahoo attack had hit rock bottom.
Whatever happened Sunday afternoon in Kansas City must have jarred something loose because since then, they have been hotter than a Kate Upton photo shoot.
The Tribe took the final two games in KC by putting up 19 runs on 28 hits. With the up and down nature of the offense, you really had no idea what to expect as the Indians returned home after the 5-4, three-city road trip. Zach McAllister took the mound to face the Philadelphia Phillies and former Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay. The big right-hander has not been himself thus far in 2013, but in his last three starts, Halladay has allowed just four earned runs in 21 innings.
It took the Tribe no time to keep their offensive mojo going. With two out and Jason Kipnis on third (single, stolen base), the hottest Indian of them all, Carlos Santana, crushed a Halladay pitch down the line in right. He used some body English to keep the ball fair for a two-run homer. It was the third straight game the Indians got on the board in the first. Halladay walked Jason Giambi to bring Mark Reynolds to the plate. With all of the fanfare that came with the signings of Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher (and rightfully so), the free agent that has paid the most dividends through the first month has been the man they call “The Sheriff.” Reynolds showed off that power stroke, going to right-center for the second two-run homer of the inning.
It was 4-0 after one inning and the Tribe was just getting started.
In the fourth, Reynolds led off with a single and was brought in on the third two-run blast of the night, this one off the bat of Lonnie Chisenhall. There aren’t many swings sweeter that Lonnie Baseball’s when he makes good contact. The offense wouldn’t quit until the chased Halladay to the showers. Ryan Raburn and Drew Stubbs singled and both came home on a two-out single by Asdrubal Cabrera. That was it for Doc, who went just three and two-thirds, allowing eight runs on nine hits, including three homers.
While all of this was going on, McAllister settled into cruise control. Through five innings, Z Mac had just one run on two hits. Sure, its a lot easier to pitch with a huge lead, but The Zach Attack continued to show consistency, something this rotation sorely lacks.
With Halladay gone, the Phillies turned to old friend Chad Durbin for some long relief. Tribe fans have seen his act before. He was an original member of the Bullpen Mafia and his former team took turns beating him like he stole something. With two outs in the fifth and Giambi on second, Raburn launched his third jack in the last two nights that almost left Progressive Field completely. Stubbs then singled. Leadoff man Michael Brantley was feeling a little neglected, so he got into the act, putting a laser shot deep into the seats in right field. It was now 12-1 and the Tribe had hit five two-run blasts.
“We did a really good job of extending innings, then doing damage after we extended the innings,” Manager Terry Francona said. “We had a really good approach, and the ball was carrying.”
Just when you thought they were done, they weren’t. With two outs in the seventh, Raburn and Stubbs hit back to back solo bombs off of lefty Raul Valdes. That’s right, Raburn has hit two, two-homer games in a row. Its the first time and Indian has done that since Travis Hafner in his 2004 prime.
What exactly has gotten into Raburn? Whatever it is, the Indians need to ride it out. He got an extra start with Nick Swisher needing a night off to rest his sore shoulder and he certainly took advantage. In his last two games, Raburn is 7-8 with four homers and seven RBIs.
“I’m just trying to have good at-bats, and right now it’s paying off. It’s part of the game. Sometimes you get locked in,” Raburn said.
By the way, the Indians attack, which has looked completely lost at times, is second in the majors in Home Runs, slugging percentage, OPS, and seventh in runs scored.
“I think we’re starting to get on that roll a little bit,” Giambi said. “We’ve pushed through the tough times and we’re starting to play really well offensively. That game tonight, against Roy, that’s unbelievable to have that type of game tonight against him.”
McAllister finished his evening going seven innings, allowing two runs (both on solo homers) on five hits. He struck out four and walked just one on the way to his second win of the season.
Some high comedy came in the eighth when Giambi beat out an infield hit with a headfirst slide into first base. “I felt like Mr. Potato Head,” he said. “My parts were moving everywhere.”
So the Tribe’s offense has now put up 33 runs in three games and the starting pitchers (Corey Kluber, Ubaldo Jimenez, and McAllister) have gone 21 innings, allowing just four earned runs. Now that, my friends, is a beauty of a three-game winning streak.
The 11-13 Indians end their mini-series tonight with Philadelphia in what should be a dandy of a pitching matchup. Rookie Trevor Bauer will get the callup from Columbus for a spot start. He has made three AAA starts and is 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA while striking out 24 in 18 innings. Bauer will face off with former Indians Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee (2-1, 3.03 ERA), who is pitching for the first time in Cleveland since being traded in 2009.
(photo via Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)
54 Comments
Giambi beat out an infield hit with a headfirst slide into first base. “I felt like Mr. Potato Head,” he said. “My parts were moving everywhere.” – good report, this bit really made me laugh, cheers WFNY for keeping us over the pond updated 🙂
Tried to watch the game at a bar last night, but got there too late and all of the TVs were spoken for, so I followed the game on my phone. I imagined it was a ton of fun to watch.
Missed the tv broadcast so missed Giambi’s head-first slide. Too bad – Tom Hamilton was going nuts and said the dugout was as well.
Did see two great things on the highlights:
– Kipnis making a difficult pivot to turn the DP in the 8th. Hard to believe he’s only recently converted to infield.
– The dude on the porch who dropped the Stubbs HR. Great moment in lowbrow fan reaction, at about the 2:45 mark.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_04_30_phimlb_clemlb_1&mode=video
15 MPH wind to center = 9 HRs
Also, how about that Pronk?
Feast or famine!
I’ll be the one to bring it up, 10k at the stadium last night? This team is easily last in attendance, 5k a night behind the Marlins. I know there has been some rough weather, but last night was gorgeous and featured an opponent that is rarely in town, and the worst average attendance dropped. I’m not sure how this franchise is sustainable going forward here with crowds like this.
Who?
+.900 OPSes the last two Aprils as well, good for him, but there is no evidence that anything has changed.
At $2M and with one WAR in the books, the Yanks have already got their money’s worth.
And his OPS this April is over 1.100 which is a pretty drastic difference.
Maybe people would show up if the cheap Dolan’s finally got that right handed bat.
as long as 7/9 are for the Tribe, I’m good.
perfect hitter for Yankee Stadium and the numbers bear it out. .432 ISO power at home.
I had the exact same thought.
Arod’s PEDs you forgot!
Keep beatin’ that drum Steve Dolan!!!
yep. but who was that pitcher in the Halladay jersey anyway?
Jason Grimsley climbed into their dug out and switched out Halladay for Brett Myers.
Haters gonna hate
hahahahahahahahaha. I cannot give enough upclicks for the layers of humor in that line.
That dude looked like he just had Baxter drop-kicked off the bridge.
half empty? 66% empty according to ESPN MLB Attendance figures
http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
absolutely somethin’ (they’ll say it again… and again ….)
I just like the song and try to fit it in whenever possible. But I do feel many of these new fangled statistical categories are entirely overrated.
TY stat boy!
Chisenhall being called out on strike two in the fifth inning was pretty entertaining too!
You do realize OPS is just on-base plus slugging? Not exactly trig. And if you don’t like the new ones, go with the old ones for Pronk- 3 2Bs, 6 HRs, 17 RBIs, .318 average, and (best for last) a triple.
lol
AND A STOLEN BASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and 13 runs scored on 21 hits.
10K is paltry. But the rare visit by an NL team isn’t a better draw than a division rival, and if (if) the Tribe can get peeps excited enough to come back it’s not going to be as a result of a 2-game April win streak that followed a 3-game losing streak.
Had an odd thought yesterday: maybe baseball attendance in cities with economic downturns is also being affected by HD television. On a non-rectangular field the baseball tv experience has always been heavily affected by the number of cameras and general quality of production value. HD alone makes watching games on tv a far better experience than just a decade ago, and maybe it’s good enough now to encourage people to stay home.
Stat boys gonna stat.
I heard Shelley Stunkan Duncan got designated for assignment yesterday by the Rays!!!
Least he could do is get me a latte or something too!
I think an underappreciated factor in the decline of fan interest has been the rising cost to just watch a game on TV. Not only do you have to pay for cable now, but you probably have to upgrade to a more expensive package. Hard to create loyalty when a large swath of your fan base can’t even watch your games.
i’m the one looking up the stats, I cannot afford to give away any caffeine (though I prefer mochas)
well, add-in that with local TV deals, attendance is becoming less important to most teams. any team in a decent sized market has their payroll covered by that TV deal and attendance, concessions, parking is paying for other things (FO, minor league/overseas, etc.).
but less desperate need for attendance revenue by owners shouldn’t negatively affect the gate, unless the owners downgrade their efforts to attract ticket buyers. Looks to me like the Dolans are trying awful hard to goose attendance, Or maybe I missed your point.
No doubt about it they got their money’s worth. I know that mgbode and I both were saying that Hafner would be well worth a cheap deal.
But he’s started very hot before getting banged up. I’m still expecting sub 100 games.
Division rival, team making its first appearance at the park in ten years, it doesn’t matter, 10k is downright pitiful.
The Tribe can’t get peeps excited when they have the best record in the majors, so of course winning a couple in a row won’t make a big difference. But I’m not asking for peeps to get excited, I’m asking why the Marlins’ crowds look like the Azteca compared to Progressive Field. It’s not that the Indians have drawing poor crowds, its that the are so far behind second-worst it makes your head spin.
Actually MLB, as a whole, is doing quite well on TV, in no small part due to mlb.tv.
10k is not half empty. If the park was half full, I would expect that after the recent performances. But they’re not close to half full, they’re far behind #29.
Well get on it your dad and grandpa expect more from you!
Insubordination = -1,000 posts!
Quick someone get the hose!
Pronk is dead it’s Pronx now!
At least you keep yourself entertained.
my point was that for most teams, the attendance is just bonus money. they still want it, but it’s not desperate.
the Indians don’t even cover their payroll with their TV deals (though they might this season due to that 1-time boost), so they do desperately need all the attendance money they can muster as well.
100 games is a good O/U on games played this season
Anytime someone loses an argument…”Haters gonna hate.” It’s getting old.
Didn’t say it wasn’t. Just pointing out that hitting up a fan base for cash through one medium may be having a negative effect else where.